C.A.D.E.T. Academy 2015 Autism Awareness Dinner/Seminar/Fundraiser

The Comprehensive Autism and related Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy in conjunction with the non-profit Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs Abuja, organized an Autism Awareness Dinner/Seminar on 25th April 2015, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, Nigeria. The event marked the climax of the various activities which the C.A.D.E.T. Academy conducted to mark the month of April as the International Month of Autism Awareness. The dinner served as a platform to create awareness about Autism, educate, inspire and encourage families, teachers and caregivers who are dealing with young students living with Autism, and also to raise funds to achieve the following aspirations under our registered non-profit arm (The Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women): 

a.         Production of a 15-minute weekly radio and television program on special needs awareness.

b.         Scholarship/sponsorship of special needs students, and special education capacity building for teachers.

c.         Procurement and installation of special education needs resources, assessment materials and teaching aids.

d.         Building of a proposed Community Centre for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women in Abuja.

The event was well attended by many parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, some regular school teachers (who were also honoured with gift items), prominent school owners, caregivers, and very important personalities in the Federal Government of Nigeria, such as the Honourable Minister of Power -Professor Chinedu Nebo in company of his wife. The dinner was preceded by a red carpet session followed by poetry and musical sessions to  entertain the guests. The duo of Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi and Mr. Koffi Idowu ensured that there was not a single dull moment throughout the occasion.

The event gave me the opportunity, as the special education Program Director of the C.A.D.E.T. Academy and founder of the Dewdrops Community Centre, to educate and enlighten the participants on some facts and misconceptions about Autism, the present issues and challenges to understanding Autism in Nigeria. We also discussed some of the signs and how to conduct comprehensive tests on individuals who are suspected to be living with Autism. We further considered certain research-based and evidence-based practices we could possibly adopt from the United States of America and other more advanced countries.

The event culminated with a fundraising session aimed at achieving the earlier stated aspirations and to provide world class special education at little or no cost to a large pool of low income earning families in Abuja and its environs. To support the non-profit Dew Drops Community Centre initiative, please send us email to: admin@cacademy.sch.ng

If you missed this event, don't worry, more of our events and activities are scheduled for the months ahead. You may visit our Facebook page HERE:  to view the official photos. Some photo highlights are below, after the cut.

C.A.D.E.T. Academy 2015 Autism Awareness Event in Abuja

The Comprehensive Autism and related Disabilities Education and Training (C.A.D.E.T.) Academy in conjunction with the non-profit Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs Abuja, organized a free Autism Awareness Aerobics Dance session and Bikers Ride/Road Show on 18th April 2015, at the Millennium Park in Abuja, Nigeria. The title of the show was: "Ride and Dance for Autism." The event was one of the activities which the two organizations conducted to mark the month of April as the International Month of Autism Awareness. The aim of this particular program was to create awareness about Autism, educate, inspire and encourage families, teachers and caregivers who are dealing with young students living with Autism.

During the event, participants had a great time with the aerobics dance sessions which reached its climax with a free rides and photo shoots session with the prestigious Abuja 09 Bikers MC. The Bikers also did some stunt displays before leading the entire participants on a 3 Kilometre road walk around the Unity Fountain square, right in front of the Abuja Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The event gave me the opportunity, as the special education Program Director of the C.A.D.E.T. Academy and founder of the Dewdrops Community Centre, to educate and enlighten the participants on some facts and misconceptions about Autism, the present issues and challenges to understanding Autism in Nigeria. We also discussed some of the signs and how to conduct comprehensive tests on individuals who are suspected to be living with Autism. We further considered certain research-based and evidence-based practices we could possibly adopt from the United States of America and other more advanced countries.

The event which was largely attended by people from within and outside Abuja was offered free of charge to the public. The participants were full of appreciation and some even used the opportunity to share inspirational stories about their personal experiences with persons living with Autism and related special needs.

If you missed this event, don't worry, more of our events and activities are scheduled for the months ahead - some will be free and some will be at a fee. You may visit our Facebook page HERE:  to view photos. Some photo highlights are below, after the cut.

#AutismAwareness on TV

Hey friends, here's the video from African Independent Television's Kakaaki for those who missed the live broadcast yesterday>>>WATCH HERE<<<

The Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women®

The Dewdrops Community Centre for Special Needs and Vulnerable Women® is a registered non-profit centre that will cater for a large population of low income earning families through donations by individuals and corporate bodies. The centre is projected to be a state-of-the-art Special Education Needs intervention centre. 

At this centre, our trained and certified specialists together with other professionals, using a multidisciplinary approach, would conduct among other procedures, early intervention programs for pre-school and school aged children with Autism and related developmental disabilities, as an important element of current Special Education international best practices recommended by international bodies which we are a member of, such as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES), the Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD), the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD),The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF). 

Through the Dewdrops Community Center, The C.A.D.E.T. Academy®, will be bringing hope to an otherwise under-served group of the Nigerian society in terms of education, thus supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria's goal of transformation in the education sector. 

Wanna be a part of this vision? Email us: admin@cacademy.sch.ng

April is International Autism Awareness Month>>>What's all the fuss about Autism?

The birth of a child has a life changing effect on a family, and when a child is born with a disability, the effect is even more pronounced. Most parents whose child is diagnosed with autism normally have a hard time coming to terms with this reality. This is quite understandable in view of the fact that the understanding of autism is still not very widespread, and the condition currently has no known cure. Some parents might even grapple with the feeling that they are in some way responsible for their child's condition. But the truth is that there is absolutely no basis for parents to harbor any guilt feelings or fears about their child being diagnosed with autism. 

If however, you observe traits in your child that you don't understand or gets you worried, and if you can associate some of these traits with autism, you need to discuss your concerns with your doctor immediately. If your child has already been diagnosed with autism, you need to take action as soon as possible. It is advisable for parents having a child with autism to get information about treatment options. They also need to work with a doctor to formulate a treatment plan that meets their child’s needs.

Contemporary research and emerging technologies has helped children with autism to live better lives. In addition, through effective treatment plans, support of family members and caregivers, children with autism could live healthier, behave more appropriately and even get included into general education settings.

A child living with autism can make good progress and live a fulfilled adult life. But the parents need to empower themselves with the right knowledge. They don't have to wait for professionals to give them all the answers - parents equally have an important role to play in their child's development.

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is associated with a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain.

Here are some quick facts about Autism:

• It is a developmental disability, and is neurological (i.e. brain-based).
• It is more of biological than psychological.
• Autism is the most common among some disorders on a spectrum known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs).
• Autism is usually diagnosed by the time a child is 3 years old.
• Autism could affect any person no matter where they are from, or their socioeconomic status.
• Autism affects as many as 1.5 million people in the United States alone, with about 24,000 children being diagnosed every year.
• Autism is diagnosed four times as often in boys than in girls.
• Children who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder need early intervention as soon as possible.

If you’re in Nigeria, and you're concerned that your child might have an ASD or other developmental problem, what should you do?" ...Visit our website to get informed>>>www.cacademy.sch.ng

You may also join us for a FREE Aerobics Dance Session in support of #AutismAwareness at the Millenium Park, Abuja, on Saturday, 18th April 2015.